3 Tips for Eating Healthy While Traveling

Traveling can be great fun; there are such amazing things to experience in this world, from the Aurora Borealis to the Egyptian Pyramids to watching the sun set from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

There is so much to be experienced, so many cultures to explore … unfortunately, on the way, you will encounter much of the same fast food culture that surrounds us now.

It can be challenging to eat healthy when you’re traveling – after hundreds of miles, moaning children and delays, stopping into a Burger King along the way begins to seem like a pretty good idea (I know, I’ve been there.)

But for the same amount of money, and only a little more preparation, you can set yourselves up with some food that will keep you energized and awake while giving you the chance to see the more interesting sides of the places you’re visiting.

Preparation is key in these circumstances.

Start the Day Right

Say you’re planning a long road trip with the kids – the first thing you will want to do is ensure you have a good breakfast.

It’s easier to feed them something really quick, like cereal, but something more hearty like oatmeal and smoothies, or sourdough toast with peanut butter and hardboiled eggs will keep them going longer.

Don’t Forget the Water

The night before you leave, put as many of your reusable bottles of water in the freezer as you can, ensuring that you won’t go thirsty. There’s also a good chance you can find somewhere along the way to fill them up.

Remember that while the sugar of fizzy drinks might give you a temporary energy-boost, water won’t make you crash later, will stave off headaches and tiredness, and doesn’t make a mess when spilled! (Bonus points for that last one.)

Snack Smart

Pre-portioned packs of fruit and nuts are easy to sort yourself the night before, as are salads and cold pastas.

Don’t want to spend the whole time snacking? A great way to reduce your snacking urges is to stick to your normal eating schedule.

If you eat later than usual you might be inclined to overindulge – or be forced to get whatever food you can while on the move.

A Special Note for Air Travel

Small, regular portions of protein will stop you from becoming ravenous on the plane. If you’re a meat-eater, jerky’s a good snack and remember that meat requires more time and energy to digest than other foods, making you more sleepy in the long run (great for prompting a nap on a plane).

The most important tip though? Drink plenty of water. It sounds simple, but you will need more water than usual on your trip to reduce your likelihood of headaches, tiredness and dehydration.

So while you’re traveling, skip the stuffy restaurants and pick a beautiful place to sit and eat your home-made lunch – it’s about the journey, after all, not the destination.

We don’t travel much due to the farm, but I like these tips for the occasions that require a long car trip.. add in being gluten free and it makes stopping for snacks near impossible anyway! Great post!

Jennifer
on August 9, 2013 at 5:29 am

When eating out is unavoidable, I check out happycow.net for vegetarian friendly restaurants. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, the restaurants highlighted often have healthier food, gluten free options, some serve meat, too. It’s a great way to find cool, off the main interstate dining